Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its stereochemistry and functional groups make it valuable for constructing complex organic molecules with high enantioselectivity. Commonly employed in peptide mimetics and drug discovery research where controlled stereochemistry is critical for biological activity. The Boc-protected amine and carboxylic acid allow for selective coupling reactions, enabling stepwise assembly of larger molecular structures.